John Adams Quotes - Page 6

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There's no such thing as a free lunch, unless you have a coupon for a free lunch...or someone gives you a lunch...never mind.

John Adams

Lunch, Giving, Mind

22 Copy quote
Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom. Aristotle speaks plainly to this purpose, saying, 'that the institution of youth should be accommodated to that form of government under which they live; forasmuch as it makes exceedingly for the preservation of the present government, whatsoever it be.

John Adams

Children, Government, Principles

John Adams (1851). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.197

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I must judge for myself, but how can I judge, how can any man judge, unless his mind has been opened and enlarged by reading.

John Adams

Education, Wisdom, Reading

John Adams, Charles Francis Adams (1850). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.131

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The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find a precept for Creeds, Confessions, Oaths, Doctrines, and whole carloads of other foolish trumpery that we find in Christianity.

John Adams

Jesus, Faith Religion, Atheism

"Fictional character: John Adams". "Spirit", Book by William Edelen, 1989.

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America is destined to be peopled by one nation, speaking one language, professing one general system of religious and political principles, and accustomed to one general tenor of social usages and customs.

John Adams

Religious, America, Political

Adams, John Quincy (1914). “Writings of John Quincy Adams Volume 4”, p.209, Best Books on

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Make Things rather than Persons the subjects of conversations.

John Adams

Conversation, Persons, Subjects

John Adams (1850). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.306

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The Holy Ghost carries on the whole Christian system in this earth. Not a Baptism, not a Marriage, not a Sacrament can be administered but by the Holy Ghost... There is no Authority civil or religious: there can be no legitimate Government but what is administered by this Holy Ghost. There can be no salvation without it. All, without it is Rebellion and Perdition, or in more orthodox words Damnation.

John Adams

Christian, Religious, Government

John Adams' letter to Benjamin Rush (December 21, 1809), as quoted in "No, Mr. Beck, John Adams Did Not Think Governments Must Be Administered by the Holy Ghost" by Chris Rodda, www.huffingtonpost.com. June 16, 2010.

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[J]udges, therefore, should be always men of learning and experience in the laws, of exemplary morals, great patience, calmness, coolness, and attention. Their minds should not be distracted with jarring interests; they should not be dependent upon any man, or body of men.

John Adams

Character, Men, Law

John Adams (1851). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.198

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It will be celebrated... with pomp and parade... bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.

John Adams

4th Of July, Illumination, Parades

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Each individual of the society has a right to be protected by it in the enjoyment of his life, liberty, and property, according to standing laws.

John Adams

Law, Liberty, Individual

John Adams (1851). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.225

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[I] never understood [what a republican government was and] I believe no other man ever did or ever will.

John Adams

Believe, Men, America

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National defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman, and that there is an obligation to perform such a duty absolutely irrespective of party politics or factional differences.

John Adams

Party, Differences, Voting

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Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.

John Adams

Government, Liberty, Foundation

Massachusetts Historical Society, John Adams, Samuel Adams, James Warren (1917). “Warren-Adams Letters: Being Chiefly a Correspondence Among John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Warren ... 1743-1814”

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Will you tell me how to prevent riches from producing luxury? Will you tell me how to prevent luxury from producing effeminacy, intoxication, extravagance, vice and folly?

John Adams

Luxury, Riches, Vices

John Adams, Charles Francis Adams (1856). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.386

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The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the law of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.

John Adams

Ideas, Law, Justice

John Adams, Charles Francis Adams (1851). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.9

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Mystery is made a convenient Cover for absurdity.

John Adams

Atheist, Jesus, Faith Religion

Diary of John Adams, www.beliefnet.com. February 13, 1756.

31 Copy quote
There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of others.

John Adams

Commitment, Two, Earth

"Beauty, Despite All: On the Generosity of Teachers" by Daron Hagen, www.huffingtonpost.com. August 11, 2016.

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As to the history of the revolution, my ideas may be peculiar, perhaps singular. What do we mean by the revolution? The war? That was no part of the revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected from 1760 to 1775, in the course of fifteen years, before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington.

John Adams

War, Mean, Ideas

John Adams, Charles Francis Adams (1856). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.172

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To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders of towns, counties or districts of a state, is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man; it is a dissolution of the government. The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.

John Adams

Men, Self, Hands

"A Defence of the Constitutions of Government". Book by John Adams. Chapter 3: "Marchamont Nedham: Errors of Government and Rules of Policy", Sixth Rule, 1787.

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Without religion this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company, I mean Hell.

John Adams

Religious, Mean, Would Be

John Adams, Charles Francis Adams (1856). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.254

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I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations. They are the most glorious nation that ever inhabited this Earth. The Romans and their empire were but a bubble in comparison to the Jews. They have given religion to three-quarters of the globe and have influenced the affairs of mankind more and more happily than any other nation, ancient or modern.

John Adams

Atheist, Believe, Fate

Letter to F. A. Van der Kemp, February 16, 1808.

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A single assembly will never be a steady guardian of the laws, if Machiavel is right, when he says, Men are never good but through necessity: on the contrary, when good and evil are left to their choice, they will not fail to throw every thing into disorder and confusion. Hunger and poverty may make men industrious, but laws only can make them good; for, if men were so of themselves, there would be no occasion for laws; but, as the case is far otherwise, they are absolutely necessary.

John Adams

Men, Law, Hunger And Poverty

John Adams (2015). “The Works of John Adams Vol. 4: Novanglus, Thoughts on Government, Defence of the Constitution I”, p.304, Jazzybee Verlag

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I would quarrel with both parties, and with every individual of each, before I would subjugate my understanding, or prostitute my tongue or pen to either.

John Adams

Party, Understanding, Tongue

John Adams, Charles Francis Adams (1851). “The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.432

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As much as I converse with sages and heroes, they have very little of my love and admiration. I long for rural and domestic scene, for the warbling of birds and the prattling of my children.

John Adams

Love, Children, Hero

John Adams, Margaret A. Hogan (2007). “My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams”, p.165, Harvard University Press

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Power in any Form . . . when directed only by human Wisdom and Benevolence is dangerous.

John Adams

Human Nature, Form, Dangerous

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Born: October 30, 1735
Died: July 4, 1826
Occupation: 2nd U.S. President
Cite this Page: Citation

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